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Berlin Tenants’ Group Seeks Crackdown on Furnished Short-Term Rentals After New Study

The tenants’ association argues that tighter controls are needed to steer apartments back into regular long-term housing.

Overview

  • An IFSS study commissioned by the Berliner Mieterverein reports that furnished short lets are removing urgently needed homes from Berlin’s rental market.
  • Listings for these units commonly advertise €20–30 per square meter with peaks up to €35, which the study links to upward pressure on overall rents.
  • The report says categories are blurring between holiday flats, furnished apartments and subletting, while district authorities struggle to police violations, especially in Mitte and Friedrichshain‑Kreuzberg.
  • The Mieterverein calls for permits in Milieuschutz zones, community-oriented mediation services and applying the overnight-stay tax to booking platforms, plus a legal cap on ‘temporary use’ at three months and transparent, standardized furniture surcharges.
  • Market data show ‘Wohnen auf Zeit’ listings rose to about 39,000 in 2024 and averaged €19.44/m² in 2022 versus €11.54/m² for regular rentals, as federal and Berlin authorities review new rules, a court-tested Milieuschutz ban and a housing protection law draft.